Room air conditioner condensate disposal means



R. e. SODER 2,887,854

ROOM AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSATE DISPOSAL MEANS May 26, 1959 Filed July 1, 1957 INVENTOR. 1 ROBERT C. SODER HIS ATTORNIY 2,887,854 ROOM AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSATE DISPOSAL MEANS .Robert'C. Soder, Erie, Pa., ass'ignor' to General Electric "Company, a corporation of New York Application July 1, 1957', Serial No. 669,041 2 Claims. 01. 62-280) The present invention relates to a room air conditioner and more particularly to means for disposing of condensate water from air conditioners of the type having a sump which at some time might he exposed to freezing weather conditions.

Although the invention is particularly applicable to condensate disposal means utilized in reversible-flow type air conditioners which are used as a means for cooling air in the summer and as a source of heat in the winter, it will be understood that the invention will also be applicable to the ordinary air conditioner that is permanently installed. and used only for ventilation or exhaust purposes during the winter months. For purposes of illustration, however, the invention will be shown and described in connection with a room air conditioner which may be utilized for both heating and cooling an enclosure.

Some of these units employ a reversible-type refrigeration apparatus containing two heat exchangers, one located within an inner compartment of the unit and the other located in an outer compartment which is exposed to the outdoor air. Each heat exchanger operates inter changeably either as a condenser or an evaporator for heating or cooling an enclosure. The conditioner is provided with a sump for collecting condensate water which collects upon the unit being utilized as an evaporator. The sump is normally positioned underneath the heat exchanger unit'located in the outer compartment of the conditioning unit. In order to dispose of the condensate collecting within the sump, many conditioners employ a slinger ring, attached to and surrounding the periphery of the fan or blower, which is used to circulate a stream of air over the outer heat exchanger. The slinger ring extends or dips into the condensate water in the sump and, during rotation, throws water out of the sump onto the outside heat exchanger.

During the winter months, when using this type of slinger ring, there is a possibility that it might become solidlyfrozen within the condensate water if the temperature drops below freezing. If the condensate water in the sump freezes and if the conditioner is turned on, the fan is prevented from rotating by ice in the sump thus causing the fan motor to overheat or result in some serious damage to the mechanical parts of the unit. In the ordinary non reversi'ble type air conditioners, when the conditioner is turned on to provide ventilation or for purposes'of exhausting air from the enclosure, if water has frozen around the slinger ring of the fan, then damage may result.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved condensate disposal device of the slinger type which will not prevent the fan from rotating even though the slinger becomes solidly frozen into the sump when the condensate water freezes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved condensate disposal device of the slinger type which dips into the condensate water but which 2,887,854 Patented May 26, 19 59 will not bind any of the rotating members of the unit when the condensate water freezes.

More specifically, it is an object of the present inven-' tion to provide an improved condensate disposal device of the slinger type which derives its rotational velocity from the reaction between components of the slinger device and the air circulating through the device, while being in complete mechanical freedom from the remaining rotational components of the air conditioning unit.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and [forming a part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of the present invention there is provided an air conditioning apparatus having a compressor connected in refrigerant flow relationship with a pair of heat exchangers, one of which operates as an evaporator and the other as a condenser. The apparatus contains at least one air moving means arranged to circulate a stream of air through one of the heat exchangers. sate water from the heat exchanger operating as an evaporator. A slinger ring is rotatably mounted above the sump and arranged to dip into the condensate water collecting in the sump to sling water droplets upwardly into the other components of the apparatus. According to the present invention, the slinger ring is provided with a plurality of blade members so arranged in the path of the air stream circulating within the apparatus and so disposed in relation to the path of the air stream as to cause the slinger ring to rotate by the reaction between the blades and the air stream passing therethrough.

Fora better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is an elevation view of an air conditioner having the condensate disposal means of the present invention; and i Fig. 2 is a partial elevation view showing the slinger ring and driving blades for rotating the slinger ring.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown an air conditioner of the reversible refrigerant flow type which is arranged to be positioned within an opening in an enclosure. The unit comprises a casing 2 which is divided by a barrier 3 into an inner compartment 4, within which the indoor heat exchanger 6 is mounted, and an outer compartment 7, containing the outdoor heat exchanger 8. The heat exchangers 6 and 8 are connected in refrigerant flow relationship with a compressor 9 also positioned in the outer compartment 7. The conditioner is provided with a reversing valve 11' which may be selectively operated to reverse the flow of refrigerant to the heat exchanger units 6 and 8. When the conditioner is on the cooling cycle air is drawn from within the room and circulated by an air moving means or fan 12 within the inner compartment 4 of the conditioner and passed over the heat exchanger 6 which is operated as an evaporator. During operation of the unit on the cooling cycle, the moist air from within the room, circulating over the heat exchanger 6, condenses onto the coil surfaces of the heat exchanger and drains downwardly where it is collected in a suitable drip tray 13 from which it is delivered by means of an insulated conduit 14 to a condensate collection sump 16 formed in the base of the unit in the outer compartment 7 of the conditioner.

As shown in Fig. 1, an air moving means or fan 17 is disposed in the outer compartment and is driven by a shaft 18 from the motor 19 mounted in the barrier 23.:

A sump is provided for collecting condeni the winter months.

specifically, the fan 17 pulls outside air through the inlet opening 20, blowing it inwardly against the barrier 3 whereupon it flows upwardly through the heat exchanger 8iand is then dischargedto the outdoors through the outlet opening 21. When the unit is operating on a heating cycle, the reversing valve 11 reverses the flow of refrigerant to the heat exchangers 6 and 8 thereupon permitting the heat exchanger 6 to be utilized as a condenser and the heat exchanger 8 as an evaporator. During the heating cycle, air from within the room is blown by the fan 12 over the heat exchanger 6 whereupon it is warmed and discharged back into the room. Outside air is blown over the heat exchanger 8, which acts as an evaporator to absorb heat from this air and the absorbed heat is utilized, via the refrigeration system, to warm the room. The outer compartment heat exchanger 8 condenses moisture out of the air during the heating cycle and this moisture also collects in the condensate collection sump 16.

As thus far described, however, this air conditioner with its reversible heat exchanger system forms no part of the present invention, but is intended only to be illustrative of one type of air conditioner to which this invention is particularly well adapted. It is not intended to limit the invention only to air conditioners of the reversible refrigerent flow type as the invention is also very useful in the ordinary type air conditioner which may be permanently mounted in the wall or window of a room to provide for ventilation and exhausting of air during As will now be described, the invention deals with the means for disposing of condensate accumulated in the air conditioner sump during either the heating or cooling cycle operation.

Mounted on the fan shaft 18 is a slinger ring 22 which is so mounted or arranged within the apparatus that its outer extremities or periphery extends into the condensate sump 16' and is at least partially submerged in the condensate water collecting in the sump. As may be seen more clearly in Fig. 2, the slinger ring comprises an outer ring portion 23v and a bearing or hub- 24 which are connected together by a plurality of blade members 25 extending radially from the hub and attached to the inner periphery of the ring. The hub or bearing 24 is formed such that its bearing diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft 18 to provide a loose fit between these two members thereby permitting them to rotate freely in relation to each other. The blades 25 form a plurality of connecting spokes between the hub 24 and the slinger ring 23 and further provide the motivating means whereby the slinger ring is rotated. As may be seen in Fig. 1, the blades 25 are arranged between thelhub 24 and the ring 23 such that they are in the path of the air stream circulated through the outer compartment 7 as it passes from the fan 17 to the barrier 3. The blades shown in Fig. 1 are canted in relation to the air stream passing therethrough. More specifically, each blade is slanted in relation to the horizontal flowing air stream such that a reaction is imparted to the blade by the moving air.

As the air stream flows between the blades of the slinger ring 22 of Fig. l, the slinger ring is given a counterclockwise rotation, as seen from the upstream direction of the fan and the slinger ring. Thus, as the fan 17 moves the air stream through the outer compartment 7. the reaction between the air stream and the blades '25 causes the slinger ring to rotate within the outer compartment 7. It was found, in order to reduce friction between the hub or bearing 24 and the shaft 18 and in order to impart a slight rotational movement to the slinger ring due to the friction which does exist between the hub and the shaft, that the canting of the blades 25 such that the slinger ring 22 is rotated in the same direction as the shaft 18- a much more efiicient operation is obtained. However, the slinger does'operateexceedingly well if the blades are slanted in the opposite direction thereby making the slinger ring rotate in the opposite direction from that of the fan shaft 18 but the frictional heat and wear on the bearing is obviously much greater.

The number of the blades 25 may be varied depending upon the particular speeds and condensate removal characteristics required by the slinger ring. In the invention disclosed, eight blades imparted sufiicient rotation to the slinger ring 22 to bring the ring approximately up to the rotational speed of the fan. It should also be noted that the size and the shape of the blades 25 may be changed to give higher and more eflicient reaction between the blades and the air stream flowing therethrough. Thus, a curved blade creates a slightly greater reactionary force for rotation of the slinger ring 22.

Water, which collects in the condensate sump 16, is picked up by the slinger ring 22 and thrown in small droplets upwardly into the heat exchanger 8 or upwardly so that the droplets are discharged into the air stream flowing over the heat exchanger 8 and carried onto the heat exchanger or out of the unit with the upwardly flowing air stream. When the water in the condensate sump 16 becomes frozen, such as is sometimes the case when the conditioner is operating as a heat pump and the outdoor temperature drops below 32 F., the ring 23 becomes solidly frozen into the ice formed in the condensate sump. This condition does not prevent the shaft 18 from rotating. Instead, the bearing or hub 24 merely slips while the shaft 18 rotates therein to operate the fan and move the air stream through the outer compartment 7. Obviously, a certain amount of frictional heat will be developed when the shaft 18 is rotating within the hub 24 if the ring 23 is frozen into the condensate sump 16. Therefore, a good running clearance should be provided between the shaft 18 and the hub or bearing 24 and the bearing material should be such that upon heating it will not score or weld onto the fan shaft 18. A tested slinger ring 22 using a nylon hub or bearing 24 was found to work very satisfactorily for this purpose.

It should be mentioned that the illustrated mounting arrangement wherein the hearing or hub 24 is arranged on the fan shaft 18 is not the only means whereby the slinger ring may be mounted. Obviously, the slinger ring 22 could be mounted on a separate shaft or pivot arranged at some point within the apparatus wherein it is possible to direct the flow of the air stream through the slinger blades to impart a rotational force to the slinger ring. The arrangement shown in the illustrated embodiment'of the invention is, however, very convenient since a fan or blower of some kind is a necessity in this type of apparatus and the shaft provides a mountingposition directly in the path of the air stream flowing from the fan. Another convenient place where the slinger ring 22 could be mounted is on the opposite side of the fan on a fan shaft extending therefrom. Of course, it could not be mounted so remotely as to be unaffected by the air stream pulled through the fan.

By the present invention there has been provided a. condensate disposal means for an air conditioner of the slinger type which permits operation of the fan or air moving means even though the slinger may be securely frozen into ice formed in the condensate sump. Moreover, the slinger ring of the present invention operates in the same manner as the normal, well-known type of slinger rings, which are mechanically attached to the fan, to throw the condensate water upwardly in small droplets froin the sump, while requiring no extra motivating means other than that already provided in the conditioner.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, there has been described what at present is considered to be and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, the aim of the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an air conditioner of the type adapted to be utilized throughout the year for conditioning the air within an enclosure, the combination comprising a heat exchange apparatus including at least one air moving means mounted in said air conditioner for circulating a stream of air through said apparatus, a sump for collecting condensate water from said apparatus, said sump being positioned wherein it is exposed to outdoor temperatures which in the winter are likely to cause said condensate water to freeze, a rotatable slinger means disposed above said sump and arranged to dip into said condensate water in said sump and means for rotating said slinger ring comprising a plurality of blades on said slinger ring in the path of said air stream and disposed at an angle thereto for driving said ring through reaction between said blades and said air stream passing therethrough whereby said ring is rotated through said condensate water for removing said water from said sump.

2. In an air conditioning unit of the type adapted to be utilized throughout the year for conditioning the air within an enclosure, the combination comprising a heat exchange apparatus including a sump for collecting condensate water from said heat exchange apparatus, said sump being positioned wherein it is exposed to outdoor temperatures which are likely to cause said condensate Water to freeze in the winter, a fan motor in said unit having a fan shaft, a fan mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith to circulate a stream of air through said apparatus, a slinger ring also mounted on said shaft and having a portion dipping into said condensate water in said sump, said slinger ring being free to rotate independently of said shaft and a plurality of blade members on said slinger ring in the path of said air stream and disposed at an angle thereto for driving said ring through the reaction between said blade members and said air stream passing therethrough whereby said slinger is rotated through said condensate water in said sump and discharges water droplets into said circulating air stream.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 983,389 Meier Feb. 7, 1911 1,189,600 Mallett ct a1. July 4, 1916 2,169,942 C-randall ct al Aug. 15, 1939 2,219,826 Swinburne et a1 Oct. 29, 1940 2,654,227 Mufliy Oct. 6, 1953 2,804,758 Smith et a1. Sept. 3, 1957 

